, 217-226. Role of dust in the working environment in development of chronic bronchitis in British coal miners. In the course of a long-term prospective study of chronic respiratory disase in British coal miners the effects on pulmonary ventilatory function of exposure to airborne dust, of simple pneumoconiosis, and of chronic bronchitis have been examined in a group of 3581 coalface workers.The men were employed in 20 collieries throughout the British coalfields. Their cumulative exposures to coal mine dust in the respirable range (1-5 ,um) were calculated from detailed dust sampling results at their work places during a 10-year period and from estimates of earlier exposures based on records of their industrial histories.A progressive reduction in FEV1.0 with increasing cumulative exposure to airborne dust has been demonstrated. This effect was evident also in a subgroup of the men studied who reported no signs of mild bronchitic symptoms (cough and phlegm for at least three months in a year).Among men with pneumoconiosis there was no evidence of a reduction of FEV1.0 in excess of that attributable to their dust exposures, smoking habits, age, and physique.

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The secondary prevention of transient ischaemic attacks was assessed in 270 patients treated orally with 100 mg indobufen given twice daily for 12 months. After 1 month's treatment, the average number and average incidence of transient ischaemic attacks were reduced significantly (P less than 0.001) and remained suppressed throughout the treatment period. Treatment was interrupted in 17 patients: in two because of side-effects (gastric disturbances); in 10 because of fatal events (six completed strokes, two myocardial infarcts and two unrelated deaths); and in five due to poor protocol compliance. Progression to reversible ischaemic neurological deficit occurred in five patients. Most side-effects were mild and transient, mainly occurring in the first month of treatment. Overall, indobufen was judged to have good efficacy and safety by both patients and physicians.